Published Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Wilbert Hanna's property in Cullybackey is one of many across Northern Ireland which are being relentlessly preyed upon by rural thieves.
He has had over £50,000 worth of equipment and livestock taken - valuable items which thieves are stealing to order and shipping out all over the world.
In these difficult economic times, Mr Hanna says he will have to sell up if organised crime gangs continue to target him.
"It's hard so it is," he told UTV. "There's no farmer making too much at the moment.
There's many a time I'm out patrolling the farm at night to see what's happening. You're not safe in your own home.
Wilbert Hanna
"That son of mine is the sixth generation and this has never happened before and we're going to be out of business if it keeps up. There's thousands in the same position as us."
The effect of the increasing rate of attacks has been felt across the countryside and some farmers have paid more dearly.
Stuart Whitcroft suffered a massive heart attack on his Co Armagh property last May after thieves stole his tractor.
His son gave chase, but the stress was too much for the 85-year-old.
Gary Whitcroft said: "I made my way back to the house and about 100 yards from the house I came across my father's car in the hedge.
"He was slumped up against the window and at that stage he was dead, obviously it was a heart attack he had taken because of the worry over my safety."
Mr Whitcroft has had to fit alarms and secret cameras on his property. He says he's bitter at what the criminals did to him and his family.
"They cost my father his life," he continued. "He was in perfect health going about his daily chores every day and I'll never forgive them."
The extent of the problem of rural crime can be gauged by the huge increase in the number of claims for stolen machinery.
In 2009 the figure was £2.9m but it has now reached £3.9m, which is a rise of 28%.
Police say they have stepped up patrols and insist they are doing all they can.
Superintendent Brian McKee said: "Police are patrolling the roads daily and particularly at night, when a lot of these crimes are occurring.
"We are putting additional resources into pursuing these type of criminals and I would strongly advise the farmers not to take the law into their own hands, take their registration, ring the police and we will respond."
But those who depend on agriculture for their livelihood say life on the farm is no longer the same.
"You're having to hide stuff all the time," Mr Hanna continued.
"Chainsaws, wee stuff like that that, we lock everything else up at night, tractors - because locks only keep a decent man out, doesn't keep a gangster out."
Mr Whitcroft said: "I don't think the farmers can take much more. This is happening on a daily basis and I think the law has to be changed.
"If it's not, sooner or later the farmer is going to take the law into his own hands and some of these criminals are going to be shot and the farmer will be the first to have to take the rap."